Moroccan Sahara: Saint Lucia Expresses Its Support For Morocco’s Autonomy Plan For Sahara

Saint Lucia expressed before the United Nations Committee of 24 (C24) its support for the autonomy plan as a “compromise solution” to the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.

The Moroccan autonomy plan is “in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly”, reminded the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the UN, Cosmos Richardson, in front of the C24 session held in New York (June 14-25).

“We also welcome the progress made in socio-economic development in the Sahara recently thanks to the initiatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, in particular the new Development Model which is focused on the human, as well as the emphasis placed on the promotion and protection of human rights”, underlined the Ambassador.

Moreover, the delegation of Saint Lucia noted the “change in dynamics on the ground”, noting that in addition to the recent US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara, many countries have inaugurated Consulates in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, underlining, in this regard, the potential for economic and social development in these provinces for the benefit of their inhabitants.

Richardson also insisted on the importance of preserving peace in the region, while welcoming the peaceful intervention of Morocco which allowed the restoration of free circulation at the level of the crossing border of Guergarat following its blockage in November 2020 by the separatist Polisario.